| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Mining Engineering |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | 2:2 honours degree |
|---|---|
Overview
- Gain specialist expertise that’s centred on environmental geochemistry and mineralogy, as well as a multi-disciplinary skillset covering natural, engineering and social science aspects of mining environmental management
- Taught by the internationally established Camborne School of Mines (CSM), a combined mining school and geoscience department
- Undertake training in the management, remediation and mitigation of the environmental impacts of mining
- Become an in-demand geoscientist helping mining companies and governments carry out mining as sustainably as possible, and protect the environment from its potentially negative impacts
- Gain the knowledge and skills for a career in national and international mining and environment industries, consultancy, academia, and government or non-governmental organisation sectors.
Top 15 in the world for Mineral and Mining Engineering
QS University World Subject Rankings 2024
Leading research facilities include £2 million analytical mineralogy labs and an automated QEMSCAN scanning electron microscope
1st in the UK for Materials and Mineral Engineering
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
Top 15 in the world for Mineral and Mining Engineering
QS University World Subject Rankings 2024
Leading research facilities include £2 million analytical mineralogy labs and an automated QEMSCAN scanning electron microscope
1st in the UK for Materials and Mineral Engineering
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
Accreditations
This degree has been accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. See www.iom3.org for further information.
Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Accreditation is awarded for a maximum of 5 years under each assessment exercise. The dates applicable to the current accreditation of this degree programme can be viewed on the Engineering Council list of accredited degrees. See www.engc.org.uk for further information.
The MEM programme is a well-designed, structured and enriched course that equips students with an outstanding skillset covering natural, engineering and social science aspects of environmental management and mining sustainability. I really enjoyed the environmental landscape of the Penryn campus, the research facilities, the outstanding lecturers and extra academic support from the university.
The technical skills and experiences that have been most useful for my career are planning, environmental risk assessment, drafting of technical reports, stakeholder engagement, partnership building, capacities building in environmental best practices, and environmental monitoring. Adding to this, skills such as team leadership and project management, problem solving, critical thinking, time management, effective communication, flexibility, accuracy and good attention to detail, have also been so useful in my professional journey. Since I left Exeter I worked as an expert for the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and joined World Health Organisation (WHO) in late June 2022.
Read more from Guy, Democratic Republic of Congo
Guy, Democratic Republic of Congo
Environmental and Social Safeguards Expert, World Health Organisation. Studied MSc Mining Environmental Management, 2021
Entry requirements
A good honours degree from a recognised university (typically a 2:2 or higher) in a science, earth or environmental science, engineering or maths based subject.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
The specific focus of the programme and specialist expertise provided will be centred on environmental geochemistry and mineralogy, but students will be provided with a multi-disciplinary skillset covering natural, engineering and social science aspects of mining environmental management.
The course is based on a robust understanding of scientific and social science theory in the field of mining environmental management, and the practice and application of field, laboratory and computing skills. You will gain experience in acquiring, synthesising and critically evaluating data from a range of geochemical, mineralogical, remote sensing and social science databases.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSMM443 | Research Project and Scientific Article | 90 |
| CSMM135 | Economics, Processing & Environment | 15 |
| CSMM185 | Soil and Water Contamination | 15 |
| CSMM219 | GIS for Mineral Explorationists and Geoenvironmental Engineers | 15 |
| CSMM431 | Extractive Metallurgy | 15 |
| CSMM441 | Mine Waste Characterisation, Prediction and Treatment | 15 |
| CSMM442 | Politics, Mining and Sustainable Development | 15 |
| CSMM904 | Professionalism | 0 |
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year:
£14,300 full-time
£7,150 part-time (where available)
International fees per year:
£28,600 full-time
£14,300 part-time (where available)
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Fieldwork
On the Mining Environmental Management MSc, you will receive practical experience of working with the environment industry and on real-case mining environmental issues.
The programme aims to produce high-quality graduates who can enjoy high employment rates and easy transition into further PhD study. Emphasis remains on applied teaching and research relevant to careers in the mining environmental management sectors.
Field visits and practical field-based assignments are used, where appropriate, to emphasise key areas within each module.
You will spend a good proportion of your time in the field, visiting various high-profile sites affected by metal mining. This hands-on experience will provide you with expertise in multiple areas, such as site evaluation, water and stream sediment sampling, soil sampling, and assessing natural geochemical processes.
Teaching and research
The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, workshops, tutorials, practical activities, case studies, industry visits, computer simulations, project work and a dissertation.
Field visits and practical field-based assignments are used, where appropriate, to emphasise key areas within each module.
The taught part of the programme is structured into two semesters.
A research- and practice-led culture
We believe every student benefits from being taught by experts active in research and practice. You will discuss the very latest ideas, research discoveries and new technologies in seminars and in the field and you will become actively involved in a research project yourself. All our academic staff are active in internationally-recognised scientific research across a wide range of topics. You will also be taught by leading industry practitioners.
Students are encouraged to undertake projects directly linked with industry, which may result in industrial placements for their project period.
Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability
You will become part of Exeter's Graduate School of Environment & Sustainability - a vibrant and supportive postgraduate community based here on our Penryn campus in Cornwall. The Graduate School brings together experts from across the spectrum of earth and life sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences and business. You will interact with students from other MScs and have the opportunity to explore issues from a range of perspectives, benefiting from a truly interdisciplinary experience. All our programmes are designed with a focus on developing solutions to global challenges and creating a better future for our planet and its people.
Careers
This MSc in Mining Environmental Management offers a unique opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in theory and technologies in the environmental management before, during and after mining. You will gain the knowledge and skill needed to work in relevant roles across sectors including the national and international mining and environment industries, consultancy, academia, and government or non-governmental organisations.
Reputational and networking benefits
A unique benefit of studying at Camborne School of Mines is the community and connections you will gain, both during and after your studies. Camborne School of Mines has a world-class reputation and excellent alumni network, allowing our graduates to prosper in their respective fields in all corners of the globe:
“I have worked in many places around the world and have yet to visit a country where I could not find at least one CSM graduate. In fact, there are normally several and they can often be found in influential positions.”
Tim Henderson, CSM graduate and current Technical Director at Glencore
Graduate skills and destinations
In addition, a degree form Camborne School of Mines will teach the necessary technical skills and theoretical knowledge required, as well as additional complementary skills relating to communications, teamwork and problem solving. We have excellent rates of graduate employment, with many postgraduates working overseas.
Support and opportunities
The Career Zone (CAS) at our Cornwall Campus provides high-quality careers information and guidance to students of all disciplines. Our experienced careers team can give you individual support whilst you are at the University and after you have graduated.
Services include talks, confidential careers interviews and an extensive careers library of reference books, magazines and journals. A new computer suite is also available for accessing online careers information, vacancy services and specialist software on, for example, sources of funding for courses and worldwide volunteering.
The CAS can help you to identify attractive jobs, careers paths and employers and assist with your CV, interview technique and identifying work experience placements.
